Monday, February 24, 2014

Comedic legend Harold Ramis dead at 69

From ew, Harold Ramis, the man behind films such as Groundhog Day and Caddyshack, died this morning from complications relating to auto-immune inflammatory vasculitis. Ramis had battled the condition for the past four years and was surrounded by family and friends in his Chicago home when he died. He was 69.

Ramis’ big break came in 1978, when he co-wrote National Lampoon’s Animal House, after which he went on to co-write Stripes, Ghostbusters, and Ghostbusters II. Ramis made his directorial debut with 1980′s Caddyshack, followed by National Lampoon’s Vacation. His most recent project was 2009′s Year One, which starred Jack Black and Michael Cera.

Ramis is survived by his wife, Erica, sons Julian and Daniel, daughter Violet, and two grandchildren.